I've been thinking for months that the BBC must send correspondents to special courses to be taught that unique, depressing intonation. It also appears mandatory that any incident involving more than three people must start with "They came to . . . " I watched Orla Guerin two nights ago, who has been moved from Iraq to Congo. Despite reporting the inherently good news that Congo was having its first elections in decades, she still managed to depress me. Best of all, as soon as I heard her name, I knew the report would start "They came in their . . . XYZ" and I was not disappointed...

Neil Brownlee, Rodney Street, Edinburgh.

Since then, Guerin has of course moved on to Lebanon. Here, once again, is her wilfully misleading report from August 14. Guess what her opening words are?